Crete's iconic Knossos Palace is witnessing an extraordinary surge in visitor numbers this August, breaking previous records.
Nikos Papadakis, the Chief Guard of the Palace, revealed that daily visitor counts have consistently surpassed 5,000 since the month began, and the total August figure is projected to exceed 200,000.
Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), Mr. Papadakis highlighted the significant increase.
"We're currently issuing over 5,000 tickets daily, and as we approach mid-August, this number could exceed 6,000, " he said.
This compares notably to the 2023 figures, where August saw 170,958 visitors - the busiest month of that year.
With consistently higher visitor numbers throughout 2024, Papadakis predicts the total annual count might even surpass one million. He attributes part of this surge to the rising number of cruise ship arrivals in Heraklion, with many passengers opting to visit Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum during their brief stays.
The impressive attendance figures underscore Knossos Palace's enduring popularity as a major tourist attraction and point towards a booming tourism season for Crete in 2024.